<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-07</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000935066</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SHELLS SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SHLL.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001252706</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHRISTON LESLIE J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>PRESIDENT/CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>option to purchase common stock $0.01 par value per share</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0.62</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-07-07</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-07-07</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock $0.01 par value</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>297374</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">See Form 4 filed on this date describing options issued.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These options are exercisable as to 148,687 on each of July 7, 2004 and July 7, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Leslie J. Christon</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

